Blackburn are bracing themselves for a third Chelsea bid for Damien Duff after rejecting two previous offers in three days last week.

Moneybags Chelsea will have to top &#xA3;17m to get the chance to even talk to Blackburn's superstar over a move to Stamford Bridge.

But Rovers chief executive John Williams admits: "It could soon be out of our hands."

Blackburn have revealed that they've rejected two bids from the West Londoners for the Irish winger, but neither came close to the &#xA3;17m clause in the players' four year contract - signed only last summer - that would mean Rovers have to allow Duff to talk terms.

It is believed Chelsea's bids were around &#xA3;12m and &#xA3;15m, which meant Rovers were within their rights to say no.

Rovers received the first bid from Chelsea on Tuesday but that was quickly rejected. Then the Londoners came back in with a new, improved offer on Thursday but that still fell short.

But Rovers would be powerless to block a move if the bid was increased by another &#xA3;2m, which seems more than possible considering the wealth of Chelsea's new owner Roman Abramovich.